In Concert/MTV Plugged


In Concert/MTV Plugged is a 1992 concert video and 1993 live album by Bruce Springsteen.
It is part of MTV's Unplugged series, recorded on September 22, 1992, at the Warner Hollywood Studios in Los Angeles near the start of Springsteen's tour for Human Touch and Lucky Town. The concert originally aired on MTV on November 11, 1992, with a one-hour Springsteen documentary beforehand.
Springsteen played one song, the previously unreleased "Red Headed Woman", solo on acoustic guitar, then he and his hired band used amplified instruments the rest of the show; hence, the concert was called MTV Plugged. Reportedly Springsteen had been unhappy with the touring band's rehearsals of acoustic arrangements, and this is what led him to break the Unplugged format. Commercially the album was certified Gold in the US.

Album

The album had a moderate reception. "With E Street ringers focusing on Bruce's 'solo' material...," said Entertainment Weekly, "Well, we won't go there." The song played on the show were relatively intense renditions, as highlighted by Springsteen's vocals and much of the instrumental accompaniment. The sombre, folk-oriented "Atlantic City" was played in a rock setting, with a rhythm intro on electric guitar as well as Springsteen's solos on the outro. Springsteen played outro solos on most of the rock songs, including "Lucky Town". The album reached number 4 in a seven-week run on the UK chart.
In 1997, five years after the concert was recorded, the album was rereleased in the US and appeared for the first time on the US charts, peaking at number 189 on the Billboard 200. The recording of "Thunder Road" from the concert was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.

Track listing

All songs written by Bruce Springsteen.

Video

A VHS and Laserdisc release of the show preceded any audio release, coming on December 15, 1992, and running 120 minutes. More songs were present here than on the later audio incarnation and on what actually aired on MTV.
On November 9, 2004, a DVD reissuing of this performance was released.

Selection listing

  1. "Red Headed Woman"
  2. "Better Days"
  3. "Local Hero"
  4. "Atlantic City"
  5. "Darkness on the Edge of Town"
  6. "Man's Job"
  7. "Growin' Up"
  8. "Human Touch"
  9. "Lucky Town"
  10. "I Wish I Were Blind"
  11. "Thunder Road"
  12. "Light of Day"
  13. "The Big Muddy"
  14. "57 Channels (And Nothin' On)"
  15. "My Beautiful Reward"
  16. "Glory Days"
Bonus songs not included in the MTV show:
  1. "Living Proof"
  2. "If I Should Fall Behind"
  3. "Roll of the Dice"

Personnel

  • Bruce Springsteen – lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitar and harmonica
The Band's Musicians

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart Peak
position